Auxiliary Bishop Dolan Issues Statement Following Announcement of Mass Deportation Plan
(SAN DIEGO, July 12, 2019) – Auxiliary Bishop John Dolan of the Diocese of San Diego issued the following statement today:
“There are reports that mass raids and deportations will be carried out imminently throughout the country, although the San Diego border region has not been mentioned as a target for these actions.
“The Catholic Church respects the right of countries to control their borders. However, this should be enforced in a fair and compassionate manner. The possibility of large-scale actions encourages panic, harming families and communities without deterring irregular immigration.
“We recognize that these are difficult times in our communities. We continue to support our migrant brothers and sisters, regardless of their immigration status. We urge them to resist acting hastily on rumors, continuing to care for their families as needed.
“And we encourage them to take prudent steps. They should know the rights they have in this country. They can review a useful guide in Spanish on this site prepared by the Catholic Legal Immigration Network.
“They should prepare for possible detention, considering its impact on the entire family. Catholic Charities of San Diego offers a bilingual workbook that can be downloaded at emergencysafetyplan.org . Through this organization, our Church offers a variety of services for migrants. They can be reached Monday through Friday at (619) 287-1270 in San Diego, (619) 498-0722 in South County, (760) 370-3914 in the Imperial Valley and by email at immhelp@ccdsd.org .
“Our Church continues to advocate that the Administration and Congress work together to reform our immigration system in a way that is just and advances the common good.
“Our faith compels us to recognize that Our Lord was a refugee and migrant during His time on earth, and to follow His example of compassion and love for our brothers and sisters in these difficult times.”